Cigar Tasting Log
A cigar tasting log — brand + line + vitola + wrapper / binder / filler, age + storage RH, pre-light (cold draw, aroma), first / second / final third notes, burn / draw / ash, strength + complexity, score.
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CIGAR TASTING LOG Taster: Morgan Lee Date: June 15, 2026 CIGAR Brand/line: Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Vitola: Exclusivo Maduro · 5.5"×50 Wrapper/binder/filler: Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro · Binder: Nicaraguan · Filler: Nicaraguan (10 yr aged) Origin: Nicaragua (Esteli) Storage: 65% RH at 68°F · purchased 2024 · ~22 months in humidor Price: $24 PRE-LIGHT (cold draw + inspection) Wrapper: oily, dark mahogany, light tooth, no veins/blemishes Foot aroma: cocoa, espresso, raisin, cedar Cap: rounded, well-applied; cut with V-cutter Cold draw: very free; flavors of dark chocolate, dried fig, light pepper Pre-light quality: excellent construction FIRST THIRD Light with single-flame torch; even toast. Opening notes: rich cocoa, espresso, leather, light black pepper, hint of raisin. Draw: ideal — slightly open but well-resistant. Burn: dead straight; razor edge. Ash: solid white-grey, holding past 1"; held to 1.5" before tap. Strength: medium-full; complexity strong already. SECOND THIRD Flavors deepen and shift: dark chocolate becomes more like baking chocolate; espresso intensifies; leather + cedar emerge; pepper retreats; sweet stone fruit (fig / raisin) carries through. Burn perfect; ash now grey + striated. Strength full; smoke output thick + creamy. Classic Padron 1964 evolution. FINAL THIRD Pepper returns slightly; espresso bitter-edge increases; chocolate still present but darker; leather sustaining; some earth on the back end. Nubs comfortably to under 1" without harshness. Final puff: warm chocolate + espresso, clean finish, no harsh combustion. Length: ~95 minutes total smoke. OVERALL + SCORE Outstanding cigar; construction faultless; complexity sustained through all 3 thirds. Personal 94/100. CA reference 95. PAIRING Excellent with: aged Caribbean rum (Foursquare 12 / Diplomatico Reserva), espresso, dark chocolate (70%+ cacao). Avoid: hoppy IPA (clash), white wines. HUMIDOR REFERENCE • 65-70% RH at 65-70°F is the universal cigar storage window • Below 60% RH: cigars dry out, harsh burn, flavors flat • Above 75% RH: mold + plume / bloom (plume OK to wipe; mold = discard) • Use a calibrated digital hygrometer; verify monthly • Boveda 65/69 packs are reliable for small humidors CIGAR STRENGTH REFERENCE Mild: little nicotine impact, light flavor (Connecticut, Cameroon wrappers often) Medium: balanced nicotine, more body Medium-full: noticeable nicotine, layered flavor Full: high nicotine, deep + sometimes bitter Strength independent of complexity — a mild cigar can be very complex
About this template
**Cigar tasting is structured across three thirds**: first third (light + opening), second third (evolution + transition), final third (deepening + close). A complete log captures construction observations + flavor evolution + strength + pairing. **Construction** is the foundation — **wrapper** appearance (color, oils, veins, tooth, blemishes), **foot aroma** (the unlit end), **cap** quality, **cold draw** (free vs. plugged). A poorly constructed cigar — uneven burn, tight draw, flaky ash, harsh combustion — never delivers regardless of leaf quality. **Wrapper / binder / filler** is the leaf trio. **Wrapper** is the visible outer leaf and contributes ~30% of flavor — **Connecticut Shade** (mild, creamy), **Connecticut Broadleaf** (sweet, often Maduro), **Habano** (Cuban-seed, spicy + complex), **Maduro** (dark, sweet, smooth from long fermentation), **Corojo** (Cuban-style, balanced spice), **Sumatra** (Indonesian / Ecuadorian, earthy spice), **San Andrés Mexican** (sweet maduro). **Binder** holds the cigar together. **Filler** is the body — long-filler (whole leaves, premium), short-filler (chopped, cheaper). **Country of origin** signals style — Cuban (where legal to obtain), Nicaraguan (strong + complex, modern leader), Dominican (often smooth), Honduran (often strong + earthy), Mexican (sweet maduros). **Storage**: **65-70% RH at 65-70°F** is the universal humidor window. **Below 60% RH** dries the cigar out — harsh burn, flat flavor; **above 75% RH** invites mold (mold = discard; plume / bloom is a different white crystal that can be wiped). Use a **calibrated digital hygrometer** + **Boveda packs** (65 or 69 RH) for reliable humidor RH; verify monthly. **Burn + draw + ash** judge construction: even burn (no canoeing), free but resistant draw, solid white-grey ash holding past 1" — all good signs. **Strength** is the nicotine impact (mild to full); **complexity** is the layering of flavor (independent of strength — a mild cigar can be very complex). **Pairing**: aged dark rum, single malt Scotch, bourbon, espresso, dark chocolate, port — bittersweet + sweet beverages tend to complement; very hoppy IPAs, dry white wines often clash. **US cigar regulation** — FDA Center for Tobacco Products regulates cigars; sales to under-21 federally prohibited; combustion products contain carcinogens. Tasting log is for **adults of legal age** with informed health risk acceptance.
When to use it
- Personal cigar tasting + rebuy log.
- Side-by-side comparison of vitolas or origins.
- Cigar club / herf documentation.
- Aged-stock evaluation (annual taste of the same blend).
What to include
- Taster + date.
- Brand + line + vitola + wrapper / binder / filler.
- Country + humidor + RH + age.
- Pre-light: wrapper appearance, foot aroma, cold draw.
- First / second / final third notes.
- Burn + draw + ash quality.
- Overall + score + strength.
- Pairing recommendation.